Here's something you might be interested in.
Dvorak, pronounced duh-vor-zjack, wrote his 9th Symphony on a commission from the New York Philharmonic during his visit to The United States.
Dvorak took the task seriously and tried to write music that represented "The New World."
This 9th symphony has become known as "The New World Symphony."
Dvorak was extremely interested in Native and African-American music.
"I am convinced that the future music of this country must be founded on what are called Negro melodies. These can be the foundation of a serious and original school of composition, to be developed in the United States. These beautiful and varied themes are the product of the soil. They are the folk songs of America and your composers must turn to them."
Unfortunately, American composer have not, in general, turned to these products of the soil.
Dvorak attempted to incorporate African-American music into his New World Symphony.
The theme of the 2nd movement was written by Dvorak to sound like indigenous, American music.
Subsequently this melody was set to the words "Going Home" and has been mistaken as an actual slave song.
The New World Symphony is a fantastic attempt at an American sound but the soil of Dvorak's native Bohemia stains this music from beginning to end.
In this sense it is a multinational piece of music.
The music itself is magnificent and The New World Symphony is one of the most popular pieces in the symphonic repertoire.
Listening to the final movement below, we may hear a few things John Williams "borrowed" for Star Wars.
This performance is absolutely electric and features The Berlin Philharmonic at the top of their game.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQmsesSde-o&feature=related
Dvorak, pronounced duh-vor-zjack, wrote his 9th Symphony on a commission from the New York Philharmonic during his visit to The United States.
Dvorak took the task seriously and tried to write music that represented "The New World."
This 9th symphony has become known as "The New World Symphony."
Dvorak was extremely interested in Native and African-American music.
"I am convinced that the future music of this country must be founded on what are called Negro melodies. These can be the foundation of a serious and original school of composition, to be developed in the United States. These beautiful and varied themes are the product of the soil. They are the folk songs of America and your composers must turn to them."
Unfortunately, American composer have not, in general, turned to these products of the soil.
Dvorak attempted to incorporate African-American music into his New World Symphony.
The theme of the 2nd movement was written by Dvorak to sound like indigenous, American music.
Subsequently this melody was set to the words "Going Home" and has been mistaken as an actual slave song.
The New World Symphony is a fantastic attempt at an American sound but the soil of Dvorak's native Bohemia stains this music from beginning to end.
In this sense it is a multinational piece of music.
The music itself is magnificent and The New World Symphony is one of the most popular pieces in the symphonic repertoire.
Listening to the final movement below, we may hear a few things John Williams "borrowed" for Star Wars.
This performance is absolutely electric and features The Berlin Philharmonic at the top of their game.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQmsesSde-o&feature=related